Folder device



E. J. MILLER FOLDER DEVICE April 2, 1940.

Filed March 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

F /G. 12. BY EDWARDJ'. MILLER ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDER DEVICE EdwardJ. Miller, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 1, 1938, Serial No. 193,298

7 Claims. (CI. 46-36) My invention relates to folder devices in which animage or other representation is animated so as to move relative toanother image or representation.

An object of my invention is to provide a folder device which moves arepresentation toward and away from another representation.

Another object is to provide a folder device for moving a representationtoward and away from, and in a plane substantially with, a secondrepresentation.

Another object is to provide a folder device for moving a representationon one side of a second representation, the first representation beingalso visible from the other side of the second representation.

Another object is to provide a folder device in which a pictorialrepresentation is borne upon a leaf of the folder and a second pictorialrepresentation is borne upon a carrier which moves in a planesubstantially parallel to the said leaf.

Another object is to provide a folder device in which a carrier bearinga pictorial representation is swung in an are relative to a secondpictorial representation borne by a leaf of the folder device.

Another object is to provide a folder device in which the leaves swingupon one axis and in which a carrier carried by one of the leaves isswung upon a second axis at an acute angle to the first axis and inwhich the carrier is moved in a plane substantially parallel to anotherleaf of the folder device.

Another object is to provide a folder device for animating a pictorialrepresentation in which a portion of the pictorial representation swingsin an arc and substantially parallel to a complementary portion of therepresentation.

Another object is to provide a folder device in which parts of thedevice swing upon an axis and in which other parts swing upon a pivotpoint lying upon the said axis.

Another object is to provide a construction for a folder device whichhas parts movable relative to each other by opening and closing thefolder device.

Another object is to provide a folder device having a construction whichis economical and simple to produce and which is eflicient in operation.

A still further object is to provide a folder device having a pluralityof carriers which move relative to a leaf of the folder device andrelative to each other.

, Another object is to provide a folder device which:

Figure l is a view of my folder device in closed position with the firstleaf on top;

Figure 2 is a view of my folder device half opened up with the raisedleaves extending perpendicular to the plane of the drawing;

Figure 3 is a view of my folder device completely opened up and with theleaves lying flat substantially parallel to the plane of the drawing;

Figure 4 is a view looking into the bottom edges of the folder device inthe direction of the arrows 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a similar view looking into the bottom edges of the folderdevice in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a similar view looking at the bottom edges of the folderdevice in the direction of the arrows 6-6 of Figure 1; and shows theleaves somewhat spread apart for purposes of clarity of illustration;

Figure 7 is a plan view of my folder device in extended position withall of the folded portions spread out in the flat;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of the bottom portion of my deviceshowing a slightly different form of construction in which the carrieris pasted or otherwise secured to a leaf of the device;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of my folder device in half open positionwith the leaves somewhat spread apart for clarity of illustration, theview being somewhat diagrammatical for illustrating the operation of thedevice;

Figure 10 illustrates a modified form of my folder device in which twocarriers are utilized;

Figure 11 illustrates a still further modified form of my device inwhich two carriers are utilized and which are mounted in differentrelative positions from that shown in Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a view somewhat like Figure 7 showing the folder device inan extended position, but shows the carrier extending from and carriedby a rear leaf of the folder device.

My folder device may be constructed of any sheet material of suitablecharacter. In adaptation for greeting cards, advertising folders, andthe like, it is preferably made of a cardboard material usually utilizedfor cards and folders of this nature, having the required amount ofstiffness and flexibility. Thin cardboard or heavy paper is the usualmaterial for cards and folders of this kind. The sheet of material maybe die cut or out out in proper outline in any other suitable manner.

Referring to Figure 'I which shows the sheet of material cut out inproper outline and lying in the flat, the construction and position ofthe parts is better illustrated. The rectangular sheet shown in Figure'7 is folded or creased along two longitudinal lines at right angles toeach other, the crease l6 being disposed in one direction and the crease26 being disposed in a direction at right anglw to the first crease.These two creases, therefore, divide the sheet of material into foursegments which form the four leaves l6, l6, l1, and II." The leaf H hasan opening 34 cut therethrough. This opening 34 may be a hole cut in theleaf I! as shown or may be a transparent portion of suitable materialwhich permits visibility through the opening 34. The image 36 is drawnupon or otherwise carried upon the leaf II. The image 36 may be anyrepresentation and is positioned adjacent to, or relative to, theopening 34.

Along the bottom edge of the leaf 16, there is an appendage portion 22which has the carrier member 23 extending therefrom. The leaves l6, l6,l1, and 18, the appendage portion 22, and the carrier member 23, are allconstructed of the one sheet of material. The crease 2| permits theappendage 22 to be bent back and under the adjacent leaf I6. The crease24 permits bending or swinging of the carrier member 23 relative to theappendage 22 and leaf l6. By folding the appendage 22 along the crease2|, the appendage 22 is brought up adjacent to and parallel to the leafl6. This swings the carrier member 23 around so as to be brought upadjacent and parallel to the leaf IT with its reverse face showing. Theimage 36 on the carrier member 23 is not shown in the view of Figure 7as it is face down and is disposed on the opposite side of the carriermember 23, but upon the carrier member 23 being swung up, the saidopposite side of the carrier member 23 is directed toward the rear faceof leaf l1 and the image 36 faces the same way as the image 36 on theleaf II.

A triangular portion is cut out of the sheet of material at its loweredge between lines 26 and 26 which extend from the edge to point 21 oncrease 20. Carrier member 28 is not connected to the sheet of materialexcept through crease 24 and appendage 22. It is preferable to cut backleaf Il along line 26 at a slightly larger angle than is leaf I6 alongline 25.

The sheet of material is folded along the crease is so that leaves l5and I8 are swung down and in position adjacent and substantiallyparallel to the leaves It and II. The leaves I6 and I1 retain theirposition shown in Figure '1 and leaves l5 and [8 are reversed to bedisposed in the rear of leaves l6 and I! so that the faces of leaves l6and 18 shown in Figure 7 are directed in the opposite direction. Thematerial connecting leaves 15 and I6 and leaves I! and I8 along thecrease [9 hold leaves l6 and I6 and leaves I! and i8 in substantiallyparallel relationship. It is seen that the carrier member 23 isinterfltted between the leaves l1 and I8 and is held in a planesubstantially parallel to the planes of leaves I! and I8 which act asguides to hold the carrier member 23 in said position.

The folder device is next folded along the crease 20 so that the face ofleaves l6 and I1 shown in Figure 7 are brought together. Swinging ofleaves 16 and i1 relative to each other also swings leaves l5 and iswhich are attached thereto. respectively. In this manner, a folder havigfour leaves is formed. The leaves are in pairs, leaves l5 and I6 beingone pair, and leaves I! and 13 being the other pair. These pairs ofleaves swing upon substantially the same axis formed by the crease'26.when they are in the spread out position shown in Figure 3, leaves l6and I! are in front and are referred to as the front leaves, and leavesl6 and I! are referred to as the rear leaves. The leaves of each pair ofleaves are retained in substantially parallel relationship to each otherby reason of the connection along the crease l6.

The folder device having been folded as described and having the pairsof leaves folded together in closed position, is illustrated inFigure 1. In this view, leaf I6 is the first page of the folder devicein book form. Leaf I6 is shown on top of the folder device and thecrease 20 is the hinge of the folder device in book form, the crease 20being along the left hand edge in Figure 1. The carrier member 23 shownin broken lines is positioned between leaves l1 and I8. When in thisflat closed position, the carrier member has been folded upon the crease24. Leaf Il being cut away along the line 26 accommodates the carriermember 23 so as to permit the carrier member 23 to extend across thecorner of the folded folder device between leaf l6 to its positionbetween leaves II and II. The opening 34 shown in broken line is in theleaf II and is illustrated to show its relative position to the carriermember 23 when the folder device is in the closed position of Figure 1.The carrier member 23, when the folder device is folded as in Figure 1.is swung back close to the crease 20. The crease 24 acts as an axis uponwhich the carrier member 23 swings, and the crease 2!! acts as an axisupon which the leaves of the folder swing. Point 21 is at theintersection of lines running through these two axes and is the pivotpoint about which the carrier member 23 swings. The axis along thecrease 24 is disposed at an acute angle to the axis formed by the crease26.

Figure 6 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows of 63 ofFigure 1 and illustrates the positioning of the parts. For purposes ofclarity the leaves are somewhat spread apart and may be closer togetherin actual practice. In this view of Figure 6, it is seen how the carriermember extends across the lower corner of the folder device, by reasonof the triangular portion cut away between the lines 26 and 26. At thebottom of the folder device, as shown in Figure 6, the leaves may bespread slightly fan-wise but it may be said that throughout the lengthof the folder device that the leaves and the carrier member aresubstantially parallel to each other.

Figure 2 is the folder. device with leaves I5 and I6 raisedperpendicular to the plane of the a drawing so that the folder device ishalf open.

The representation 36 on the leaf I1 is in full view. The representation36 borne upon the carrier member 23 is complementary to therepresentation 36. The opening 34 permits that part of therepresentation 36 back of the opening 34 to be visible. It is seen thatthe carrier member 23 has swung in an are upon the pivot point 21 downfrom the position illustrated in Figure 1. The image of the man in therepresentation 36 has therefore bent slightly toward the image of thewomen in the representation 36. When the folder device is in the halfopen position of Figure 2, the carrier member 23 has gone through halfof the extent of its movement so that the representation" has moved fromits most withdrawn position part way toward the representation 35.

Figure 5 being a view looking at the bottom edges of the leaves shown inFigure 2, illustrates the positioning of the leaves and the carriermember. Again it is seen how at the bottom of the folder device, thecarrier member 23 cuts across the corner from'leaf |3 to its insertedposition between leaves l1 and I3.

Figure 3 illustrates the folder device when completely open with leavesl5 and I1 lying flat. The carrier member 23 has moved to its other limitof movement so that the mans head has moved down toward the image of thewoman in the representation 35 on leaf H. The movement of the carriermember 23 is such that it moves in a plane substantially parallel to theplane of leaf |1, it being guided in said substantial plane by the rearleaf I8. During the movement of leaves I5 and I6 upon the axis formed bythe crease 23, the carrier member 23 has swung upon theaxis formed bythe crease 24. Since crease 24 is at an acute angle to crease 29, thetwo axes are statedto be at an acute angle to each other. Point 21 atthe intersection of the two axes is a pivot point about which thecarrier member 23 swings in its movement. In Figure 3, a part ofthecarrier member 23 is disclosed as extending across the triangularportion cut off between lines 25 and 26. Upon swinging the pairs ofleaves together relative to each other, the process is reversed so thatthe carrier member 23 swingsback in an are upon the pivot point 21through the position illustrated in Figure 2 and back into- '39 swingsupon the axis 24 in the same manner the position illustrated in Figure1, the other limit of its,movement.

Figure 4 illustrates a view looking in the direction of the arrows 4--4and shows the bottom edges of the folded device when in the openedposition. While the leaves are shown closely to-' gether in Figure 4 andthe leaves shown somewhat spread apart in Figure 3, these slight changeshave been made for purposes of clarity of illustration, the relativepositioning of the parts being the same.

Figure 9 is a view somewhat diagrammatical in nature for the purpose ofillustrating the movement of the parts. Point 21 is at the intersectionof the axis formed by the crease 20 and the axis formed by the crease24. Point 29 at the end of the crease 24 opposite from point 21 movesduring the folding and unfolding of the pairs of leaves of the foldeddevice. The path of movement of point 29 forms an are shown in brokenline in Figure 9 and connecting points 33, 29, and 3|. When the foldingdevice is closed as illustrated in Figure 1, then point 29 coincideswith point 3|. During the unfolding of the leaves, point 29 rises in anarc to the point on the are shown at point 29 in Figure 9. When thefolder device has been completely opened to the position shown inFigureB, then the point 29 moves in an are down to the position denotedby the reference character 39. During this movement of point 29, thecarrier member 23 swings in an are upon point 21. The swinging of thecarrier member 23 upon the axis formed by the crease 24 is thereforetranslated into a movement substantially parallel to the planes ofleaves l1 and I8. This movement of the carrier member 23 changes therelative position of the representation 33 to the opening 34 and variesthe degree to which the representation 33 is visible through the opening34. When point 23 is in its highest position, being that shown in Figure9,

there is a tendency for the lower edge of the leaf "to be slightlyraised and the flexibility of the sheet material permits some slightbending to prevent any binding of the carrier member 23 upon the leaf|1. .When in the closed position, point 29 does not exactly coincidewith point 23 as line 26 is cut back slightly more at an angle than line25 so as to permit more freedom to the carriermemberextending betweenthe leaf ii to the inserted position-between leaves l1 and I3. Figure8-isa fragmentary view illustrating the diiferent manner of attachingthe carrier member 23 to the leaf IS. The carrier member 23 instead ofbeing hingedly connected to the appendage 22 is hingedly connected to atab portion 31 which is pasted or otherwise suitably secured to the leafii. In this form it is not necessary to have the carrier member 23 cutout of the same sheet of material as the leaves of the folder. Thecarrier member 23 may be separately formed and connected in properposition by pasting or otherwise securing the tab portion 31 to the leafIt. It is preferablato paste the tab portion 31 to the underside of theleaf I5 for purposes of appearance.

In Figure 10, I illustrate a modified form of my holder device in whichtwo carrier members [are utilized. The leaf H has the opening 34 cuttherein,.and a representation 33 such as'the the leaf IS. The portion 40of the carrier member39 is pasted or otherwise secured to the under faceof leaf l5 and the carrier member as described for the preferred formillustrated in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. The representation 44 which maybe the image of a Spaniel dog as 11- 1ustrated,-is drawn or otherwiseborne upon the carrier member 39.

The carrier member 4| having tab portion 42 is also secured to the underface of leaf I5 at the upper edge of leaf I6. Another triangular portionmust be cut out of leaves l3 and H in the same manner as the triangularportion which was cut out along the bottom edge. The triangular portionsupon the upper and lower edges of the folder device shown in Figure 10are the same and both provide for the extending across of the carriermembers 39 and 4| from the leaf I6 to their inserted position betweenleaves l1 and I3. As the upper edge of the folder device is folded alongthe crease 9, it is'necessary to out along the crease |9 between lines25 and 26 in order to complete the triangular cut away portion. In orderto prevent binding it is also preferable to cut aslit between points 23and 52 in order to prevent some slight separation of leaves l1 and I8during the swinging of the pairs of leaves toward and away from eachother. The carrier member 4| similarly swings upon the axis formed bythe crease 24 and moves in a plane substantially parallel to the leavesl1 and I3.

The carrier member 4| has drawn upon it or otherwise bears therepresentation 43 which may be an image of a Scotty dog as illustratedin Figimage of the Scotty dog on carrier member 4| 4 will move down awayfrom the image of the bird and the image of the Spaniel dog on thecarrier member I! will move up towards the image of the bird. Opening upof the folder device reverses this movement so that the Scotty dog movesupward and the Spaniel dog moves downward. The image of the Seotty dogand the image of the Spaniel dog moves in their separate arcs about thepivot point 21. This alternate movement of the images moving in theirrespective arcs gives the illusion of the dogs alternately jumping uptowards the bird.

Figure 11 illustrates still a further modified form of my folder device.The carrier member 49 having the tab portion ll is secured by pasting orother suitable means to the leaf I. and

the movement of the carrier member relative to the opening 34 is similarto that shown in the preferred form shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.In this modification, shown in Figure 11, there are three pairs ofleaves. In addition to leaves l5 and i6 and leaves I! and II, there areleaves l5 and 46 which are merely extensions of leaves l1 and I8. Leaves4! and l. swing upon an axis formed by the crease l1 and swing in towardand away from leaves i1 and I l just as do leaves IE and I6. Leaves l6,l1 and are the front leaves Y and leaves [5,18, and I are the rearleaves.

Crease l9 extends acrm the sheet of material and connects leaves 45 and48 in the same manner as it connects the other leaves.

The carrier member 5| having the tab portion 50 is. pasted or otherwisesuitably secured to leaf ing 34 and the carrier member 49 is seen justin the rear of the carrier member 5|. Both carrier members move inplanes substantially parallel to each other. This modification adaptsitself -to still further changes in animation of obwill give the effectof sparring action by the boxers.

It is apparent in-all of these modifications that the direction of thecarrier members utilized in any specific case is dependent upon theangularity of the axis upon which the carrier member swings, in relationto the axis upon which the leaves swing. A change in the angle of crease24 in relationship to crease 2! will vary the nature of the movement ofthe carrier member. In order to obtain the desired movement of therepresenta-. tion of the carrier member, the desired angularit of thecrease 24 is provided. I

Various changes and forms may be made as suggested by the illustrationshown. For example. carrier member 5| in the view of Figure 11 could bepositioned so that tab portion II is secured to the upper-edgeofthe leafll diagonally opposite from tab portion ll. with thisvchanle. carriermember ll would operate in the same manner as carrier member ll in thefolder shown in l 'lgure 10 and its operation relative to carrier member0 is apparent. The positioning of the carrier members and the angularityof the axis upon which they swing being dependent upon the choice ofspecific requirement for animation desired In Figure 12, there isillustrated a view of my folder device somewhat similar to that shown inFigure 7 with all portions spread fist. This view illustrates that thecarrier member may be carried by one of the rear leaves as well as by afront leaf. It is seen that appendage 22 extmds from leaf IS, a rearleaf, instead of from leaf I as shown in Figure '7. The mounting andoperation of the holder device is nevertheless the same, the carriermember 23 extending through the triangular cut away portion formed bylines II and 28 to interfit between leaves I? and II. Since the frontleaf II and rear leaf I! swing together upon the axis relative to leavesi1 and II, the carrier member may be secured to either leaf I! or leafII. In cases where the carrier member is pasted or otherwise suitablysecured to the leaf rather than being integral therewith, it may besecured by pasting or otherwise suitably securing the tab portionattached thereto to the rear leaf as well as the front leaf. In theprevious modifications wherein the carrier member was shown as securedto the front leaf, it may be likewise secured to the corresponding rearleaf as the front leaf and corresponding rear leaf swing together uponits axis.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmadeonly by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.-

I claim as my invention:

1. A folder device comprising a sheet creased upon a horizontal medianline and then upon a vertical median line to provide two pairs of Joinedfront and rear leaves adapted to swing upon the crease along thevertical median line, said sheet having a triangular open space at anedge thereof. the apex of the said triangular open space beingpositioned adjacent the crease along said vertical median line, acarrier member having a supporting appendage carried by, and positionedbetween the front and rear leaves of; a first of said pairs of leaves,said carrier member being extended across said triangular open space andinterposed between the front and rear leaves of a second of said pairsof leaves, the carrier member being creased along a line at an acuteangle to said vertical median line to cause the carrier member to swingin an are between the front and rear leaves of said second pair ofleaves upon the swinging of a said pair of leaves relative to anothersaid pair, of leaves. 1

2. A folder device comprising a sheet creased upon a horizontal medianline and then upon a vertical median line to provide pairs of joinedfront and rear leaves adapted to rotate upon the axis formed by thecrease along the vertical median line, said sheet having a triangularopen space at an edge thereof and in adjacent portions of said frontleaves at said vertical median line, a carrier member having an endportion carried by, and positioned between the leaves of.

aromas aim of said pairs of leaves and having another end portioninterposed between and movable substantially parallel to, the leaves ofa second of said pairs of leaves, the said carrier member being extendedacross said triangular open space adjacent to said rear leaves and beingcreased along a line disposed substantially adjacent to a side of saidtriangular open space to permit the carrier member to bridge thevariable angular space between said front leaves and to swing in an arcbetween the leaves of said second pair of leaves upon the rotation onsaid axis of one pair of leaves relative to another pair of leaves.

3. A folder device comprising a sheet creased upon a horizontal medianline and then upon a vertical median line to provide two pairs of joinedfront and rear leaves adapted to swing upon the crease along thevertical median line, said sheet having an appendage extending from anedge thereof and folded back upon said sheet and interposed-intermediatethe front and rear leaves of the first pair of leaves, said appendagehaving an extending portion adapted to extend to, and interfit between,the leaves of the second pair of leaves, the extending portion beingcreased along a line disposed at an acute angle to said vertical medianline to cause the extending portion to swing in an arc between, andsubstantially parallel to, the leaves of said second pair of leaves,said sheet being cut away to remove adjoining portions of the frontleaves at said vertical median line to permit the said extending portionto bridge the variable angular space between the planes of said pairs ofleaves, upon the-swinging of one pair relative to the other pair.

4. A folder device comprising a sheet creased upon a horizontal medianline and then upon a vertical median line to provide two pairs of joinedfront and rear leaves adapted to swing upon the crease along thevertical median line, said sheet having a triangular open space at anedge thereof, the apex of said triangular open space being positionedadjacent the crease along said vertical median line, a carrier memberhaving a supporting appendange carried by, and

positioned between the front and rear leaves of, a first of said pairsof leaves, said carrier member having a projecting portion adapted tocarry a portion of a representation, said projecting portion beingextended across said triangular open space and interposed between thefront and rear leaves of a second of said pair of leaves,

the front leaf of said second pair of leaves being adaptedto carry acomplementary portion of said representation and having a cut awayportion adapted to disclose the portion of the representation carried bythe projecting portion of the carrier member. the carrier member beingcreased along a line at an acute angle to said vertical median line tocause the carrier member to swing in an arc between the front and rearleaves ofsaid second pair of leaves and to vary the relative positionsof the complementary portions of the said representation upon theswinging of a said pair of leaves relative to another said pair ofleaves.

5. A folder device comprising a sheet creased upon a horizontal medianline and then upon a vertical median line to provide two pairs of joinedfront and rear leaves adapted to swing upon the crease along thevertical median line, said sheet having an appendage extendin from anedge thereof and folded back upon said sheet and interposed intermediatethe front and rear leaves of the first pair of leaves, said appendagehaving an extending portion adapted to extend to, and interflt between.the leaves of the second pair of leava, said extending portion beingadapted to carry a portion of a representation and the second pair ofleaves being adapted to carry a complementary portion of therepresentation, the front leaf of said second pair of leaves having atransparent portion adapted to disclose the portion of therepresentation carried by said extending portion, the extending portionbeing creased along a line disposed at an acute angle to said verticalmedian line to cause the extending portion to swing in an are between,and substantiallyparallel to, the leaves of said second pair of leavesand to vary the relative positions of the complementary portions of saidrepresentation, said sheet being cut away to remove adjoining portionsof the front leaves at said vertical median line to permit the saidextending portion to bridge the variable angular space be tween theplanes of said pairs of leaves, upon that;r swinging of one pairrelative to the other p 6. A folder device compriisng a sheet creasedupon a horizontal median line and then upon a vertical median line toprovide two pairs ofjoined front and rear leaves adapted to swing uponthe crease along the vertical median line, said sheet having atriangular open space at an edge thereof, a point of the said triangularopen space being positioned adjacent the crease along said verticalmedian line, a carrier member having a supporting appendage carried by afirst of said pairs of leaves, said carrier member being extended acrosssaid triangular open space and interposed between the front and rearleaves of a second of said pairs of leaves, the carrier member beingcreased along a line at an acute angle to said vertical median line tocause the carrier member to swing in an are between the front and rearleaves of said second pair of leaves upon the swinging of a said pair ofleaves relative to another said pair of leaves.

7. A folder device comprising a sheet creased upon a horizontal medianline and then upon a vertical median line to provide two pairs of joinedfront and rear leaves adapted to swing upon the crease along thevertical median line, said sheet having a triangular open space at anedge thereof, a point of the said triangular open space being positionedadjacent the crease along tion of a representation, said projectingportion being extended across said triangular open space and interposedbetween the front and rear leaves of a second of said pair of leaves,the front leaf of said second pair of leaves being adapted to carry acomplementary portion of said representation and having a cut awayportion adapted to disclose the portion of the representation carried bythe projecting portion of the carrier member, the carrier member beingcreased along a line at an acute angle to said vertical median line tocause the carrier member to swing in an are between the front and rearleaves of said second pair of leaves and to vary the relative positionsof the complementary portions of the said representation upon theswinging of a said pair of leaves relative to another said pair ofleaves.

mwann .1. 1mm

